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Marjory Stoneman Douglas Prodigy Coby Mayo Drafted by the Major Leagues

by Matt Rothman June 12, 2020

by Matt Rothman June 12, 2020 198 views

Coby Mayo.

By: Matt Rothman

With the 103rd pick in the 2020 MLB draft, Coby Mayo, from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas baseball team, was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.

He becomes the 14th player drafted out of MSD and is hoping to become the fourth player from Parkland to appear in the big leagues joining Matt Fox, Mike Caruso, Anthony Rizzo, and Jesus Luzardo.

“Hearing my name called in the 2020 major league baseball draft has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid, and tonight that dream came true,” said Mayo. “The Baltimore Orioles couldn’t have drafted a harder working kid, and I couldn’t have been selected by a better team.”

Mayo grew up in Coral Springs, where he began playing little league with the Diamond Dawgs. He has three brothers, Joey, Michael, and K.J, and resides with his parents Keith and Terri.

He started his varsity career a season after the Eagles won the 2016 National Championship, leading MSD to 66 wins in his four years despite his senior season being cut short due to COVID 19. He is committed to playing at the University of Florida in the fall.

In his freshmen season, Mayo only had four at-bats but went on to hit .409 in his final three seasons with 13 home runs and 48 RBI’s. He also scored 61 runs and went 17/18 stealing bases.

At 6-foot-5 with his rocket of an arm from the other side of the diamond, Mayo has a great glove and can play both third base and shortstop. However, he can play anywhere and may end up in the outfield at some point.

His journey through high school was different from the other 160 picks. Mayo was a sophomore during the school shooting at MSD and saw his girlfriend, Madison, lose one of her closest friends.

Since that time, Mayo and the rest of his team have had many unique experiences. In 2018, they were invited along with the softball team to spring training and had an opportunity to take both batting practice and play a game against Coral Springs High School at Marlins Park in Miami.

Despite having a unique stance that many people didn’t think would work, Mayo adjusted his stance to a bit more upright position and feels like he is close to being the hitter he wants to be. He tries to emulate his game from some of the best players in the league in Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, and Bryce Harper.

Mayo’s skills compare well to someone Austin Riley of the Atlanta Braves. Mayo is a bit taller and potentially will have more speed, but possess similar explosiveness with the bat of someone like Riley.

Mayo will have a bit of time to decide if he wants to sign a professional contract or go to school and play collegiate baseball for the Gators. In any event, he put up some of the best numbers that any player has ever put up at MSD.

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Matt Rothman

Matt Rothman is a 2018 graduate from Florida Gulf Coast University receiving his bachelor’s degree in journalism and then graduated from the University of Florida as a graduate student. He also works for the Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City, Arizona covering high school sports.